NMP Joins the National Lung Month Celebration

NMP Joins the National Lung Month Celebration

(Upper Photo) NMP Officials and employees during the Lecture on Lung Cancer Awareness on 31 August 2018 (Lower Photos ) Mr. John Paul H. Roca, Health Education and Promotion Officer II of the Department of Health Regional Office No. 8 (left) and Ms. Karen Elouise Gijan C. Piga, Provincial Program Coordinator and Manager of the Leyte Provincial Health Office (right) conducting their lectures

In order to foster the importance of greater awareness on lung diseases in our country, the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) through its Safety and Health Committee and Human Resource Management Section (HRMS) facilitated the conduct of “Lecture on Lung Cancer Awareness” on 31 August 2018 in observance of the National Lung Month.

The lecture was held at the Room 109, NMP Training Building, Tacloban City and was attended by fifty-six (56) participants composed of NMP personnel and trainees. Invited Resource Persons were Mr. John Paul H. Roca, Health Education and Promotion Officer II of the Department of Health Regional Office No. 8 and Ms. Karen Elouise Gijan C. Piga, Provincial Program Coordinator and Manager of the Leyte Provincial Health Office. Topics discussed include Smoking and its Health Effects and Tuberculosis (TB).

The celebration of the National Lung Month aims to focus the public’s attention to the pulmonary system and illnesses of the lungs and urge everyone to contribute to a better and healthier environment.

“In the Philippines, lung cancer is among the leading causes of deaths. However, cancer can be prevented through awareness. Today is a good opportunity for us to learn and widen our understanding through our guests speakers” Engr. Ponciano V. Trinidad, NMP Agency Officer-In-Charge, disclosed in his opening message.

According to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) data published in 2017 Lung Cancers Deaths in the Philippines reached 11,365 or 1.84% of total deaths. The age adjusted Death Rate is 16.99 per 100,000 of population ranks Philippines No. 72 in the world. (Source: http://worldlifeexpectancy.com/philippines-lung-cancers )

“If we continue to inform people regarding TB we will indeed achieve a greater purpose of eradicating the disease because the WHO aims to eradicate this by 2020, however, we are not yet close in achieving eradication. Although we have lessen the cases, we are still treating and encountering numerous cases for TB. With the efforts of our institution and the government in advocating and informing everyone about TB, this will definitely help the move of the WHO” said Ms. Piga.

The attendees were reminded on the importance of personal knowledge on the dangers of infectious tuberculosis in their daily interaction with other people, as well as the free treatment provided by the government.

It may be recalled that the month of August was declared as the National Lung Month in the country through Presidential Proclamation No. 1761, which was signed by the former President Ferdinand Marcos on July 24, 1978.

Likewise, former President Fidel Ramos issued Presidential Proclamation No. 840; s 1996 dated July 30, 1996 declaring August 19 every year as the National Tuberculosis day that marks the birth anniversary of President Manuel Luis Quezon who died of Tuberculosis.

Meanwhile, NMP continues to upgrade its facilities and provide maritime trainings required pursuant to the STCW Convention as amended in 2010 including value-adding courses towards improving the qualifications of Filipino seafarers for their employment acceptability and enhanced competitiveness. It also regularly conducts maritime studies to come up with policies for the improvement of the manpower sector of the industry.

Those interested in NMP research undertakings may visit the NMP website (www.nm.gov.ph) and access the e-Research Information System Portal which is designed to gather inputs for NMP’s research, dissemination of NMP completed researches and other articles pertaining to maritime research.

For more information about NMP trainings viewers may visit the agency’s facebook page (www.facebook.com/nmptrainingcenter) where all related information on NMP trainings are available.

Further, NMP encourages seafarers to avail of the NMP-OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) Seafarers’ Upgrading Program (SUP) which entitles the beneficiary to receive financial assistance for training costs from the OWWA.